Dahlia plant named ‘Fidahhypchepi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Fidahhypchepi’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; early and freely flowering habit; large inflorescences with red purple-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Dahlia variabilis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIDAHHYPCHEPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Fidahhypchepi’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new pot-type Dahlia plants that have afreely branching and flowering habit, attractive ray floret colorationand good postproduction longevity.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in Hillegom,The Netherlands of an unnamed selection of Dahlia variabilis, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofDahlia variabilis as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Hillegom, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Hillegom, The Netherlands since 2010 has shown that theunique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fidahhypchepi’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Fidahhypchepi’ as a new and distinct Dahliaplant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounding plant        habit.    -   2. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   3. Large inflorescences with red purple-colored ray florets.    -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the newDahlia differ primarily in ray floret coloration and plant shape.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia‘Fidahhyppi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,254. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the newDahlia differed primarily from plants of ‘Fidahhyppi’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia were more vigorous than plants of        ‘Fidahhyppi’.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia had darker colored ray florets than        plants of ‘Fidahhyppi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Dahlia plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Fidahhypchepi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and the following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter in 17-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and underenvironmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial potted Dahlia production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C.Plants were ten weeks old when the photograph and description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘Fidahhypchepi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Dahlia            variabilis, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Dahlia            variabilis, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at            temperatures of about 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at            temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve            days at temperatures of about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 16 days            at temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; tuber development has not            been observed on plants of the new Dahlia.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright, somewhat outwardly            spreading and mounding plant form; broad inverted triangle;            three primary lateral branches develop, each primary lateral            branch with numerous secondary branches; inflorescences held            above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; bushy and dense            habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 27.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Internode length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Aspect: Erect to            somewhat outwardly spreading. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite; leaves may be single or            compound with three or five leaflets.        -   Length.—About 9.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate to dentate.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent;            slightly rough.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,            close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 138B; venation, close to 138B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Rotate inflorescence form with            ray florets forming acropetally on a receptacle;            inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; inflorescences face upright to outwardly; freely            flowering habit, about 20 inflorescences develop per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously from spring            through the autumn in The Netherlands; early flowering            habit, plants begin flowering about seven to eight weeks            after planting.        -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about two weeks on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Shape: Globular, flattened. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 10 cm. Depth (height):            About 4 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.5 cm. Receptacle height:            About 3 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 2 cm.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 75 arranged            in about seven whorls. Length: About 4 cm. Width: About            2 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Aspect: Initially upright to eventually            roughly perpendicular to the peduncle; ray florets cupped.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 57A;            towards the apex and base, close to NN155D; color does not            fade with development. When opening, lower surface: Close to            N57B, N57C and NN157D.        -   Disc florets.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices obtuse. Number of disc            florets per inflorescence: About 37. Color, when opening and            fully opened: Close to 17A; towards the base, close to 145D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About five to six            arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width:            About 5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Aspect: Mostly erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on ray and disc            florets. Quantity per floret: About three. Filament length:            About 8 mm. Filament color: Close to 17A. Anther shape:            Narrowly elliptic. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color:            Close to 17A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close            to 17A. Gynoecium: Not observed. Seeds and fruits: Seed and            fruit development have not been observed on plants of the            new Dahlia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia    plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia tolerate high    temperatures of about 35° C. and are hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘Fidahhypchepi’as illustrated and described.